CAIRO, May 18 (Aswat Masriya) - The two main suspects in an assassination plot against a judge were killed in an exchange with security forces attempting to arrest them, the Interior Ministry said.

The failed assassination attempt took place on May 10 when explosive devices were planted underneath the judge's car outside his house, located in a Cairo suburb. The explosion injured a passerby and caused damage to five cars.

Security forces were able to locate the main suspects. The ministry said that the suspects initiated with opening fire, to which security forces responded, killing them.

The judge has presided over multiple cases where Muslim Brotherhood leaders were defendants, issuing several death and life in prison sentences.

On May 16, gunmen opened fire on a vehicle in North Sinai's al-Arish city, killing three prosecutors and a driver. 

The sources believe the deadly attack on prosecutors came in response to a court decision earlier today to refer ousted Islamist President Mohamed Mursi to the Grand Mufti, a step that must be taken in Egypt's court system ahead of issuing a death sentence. 

Following the attack, the Supreme Judicial Council decided to look into offers for group insurance policies for judges and prosecutors. Courts in Arish were relocated to Ismailia, on the west bank of the Suez Canal. 

As for the deceased driver, his family will receive monthly assistance from the government, the Ministry of Social Solidarity decided on Monday. 

Militancy inside Egypt has seen a significant rise since July 2013, with most attacks targeting security forces in North Sinai.

Egypt listed the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation in December 2013 and insists it is behind the wave of militancy which has targeted security personnel since July 2013. The Brotherhood continuously denies the accusations.